Samuel Burden, the present warden of the united counties of Northumberland and Durham, is a native of Devonshire, England, a son of William and Ann (Sanders) Burden, and was born January 1, 1835. The name was originally spelt Bourdon, and traced back to Normandy, being as old as William the Conqueror. The family emigrated to Canada in 1843, and settled at Bowmanville; William Burden being a nurseryman. He and his wife are still living, his age being seventy-seven, hers seventy-six.
Our subject was educated at the Normal school and Upper Canada College, Toronto, taking care of himself since ten years old, and earning the funds for his education by work in a cooper’s shop.
He taught two schools in the township of Darlington an aggregate of eleven years, ending his career as an instructor in 1869. Since that date his business has been that of produce dealing, buying butter, cheese, poultry, fruit, etc., and shipping to the United States, England and Scotland. Durham County is a fine fruit growing country, and one autumn he shipped 10,000 barrels of winter apples to the United States. He has sold Northern Spies in the London market as high as two guineas a barrel.
Mr. Burden held various offices before becoming warden, as already mentioned was town councilman, Deputy-Reeve, reeve, and trustee of the public schools, being now in the last named office, and holding it many years. Being a teacher for a considerable period, and much interested in educational matters, he makes a very valuable member of that board. Every official duty which he assumes he discharges promptly and with efficiency.
Mr. Burden is connected with two secret orders, and has been Senior Warden in the Masonic Lodge at Bowmanville, and Grand Conductor of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of Ontario He belongs to St. John’s Episcopal Church.
His marriage is dated May 24, 1855, his wife being Miss Isabella Younie, descendant of an Aberdeen (Scotland) family, and a native of Toronto. They have had eleven children, and lost five of them in infancy. The other six are still living. Mr. Burden has a cozy home, and a greenhouse in which he amuses himself in the winter time. He seems to have a passion for flowers, and a love for the beautiful, no disparagement to anybody’s character. The most finely fitted up garden and grounds in Bowmanville are those of David Fisher, banker, though scores of others, like Mr. Burden, show decided taste in that direction.
